Dual wheel assembly



Oct. 2 1945. c. s. ASH 2,387,382

DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Filed web 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

"C/mr/cs 5. A511,

ATTORNEY- c;. s. ASH DUAL WH EL ASSEMBLY Oct. 23, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1942 Patented Oct. 23,1945

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,387,382 DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Charles S. Ash, Milford,-Mich.

Application March 9, 1942, Serial No. 433,866

r 4Glaims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in dual wheel assemblies and, particularly independently rotatable dual wheels for automotive road vehicles.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with theinventiomthe same being realized andattained by means of the instrumentalities andcombinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations. andnimprovements herein shown and described.

"The accompanying drawings, referred'toherein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate two embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of, the invention.

Of'the drawings:

"Figure'lis a vertical sectional view showing a typical and illustrative embodiment of the present invention as appliedltotrailing, or nonedriven, dual wheels j Figure 2Tis a verticalsectional view, with the wheels omitted, of a modifledsembo'diment of. hub structure .and'braking means. t

Figure .3 is a lfragmentary 'detailcsection of modified brake drums which may be associated with, the mechanism of Figured.

j'LThe present invention has for its objectthe pro- 1 vision of {a novel and improved t dual wheel constructionlin which .the parts are simplified and maybe producedteconomically. A further object is theprovision ofladual wheel construction hav- 1 inglhub members: adaptedto receive, and permit easy replacement of, standard types of, automotive orl trailerwheels. Theinvention further provides a fdualwheel structure in which the, outer wheel and itshub may be removed from their supporting i member ,to provide free and easy access to the innerwheel andlhub, the inner wheel being independently rotatable with :respect to the supportingfmember.

Referring. now in detail to the typical embodiment of theinvention illustrated inFigure "1 of i the drawings, the invention isshown as applied to a setlofsindependently rotatable dual wheels to be rotatably supportedtat the end ofa trailing, or dead axle lll oflconventionaluconstruction 11 whichis providedtwitha tapered-end H on which are received in spaced relation the anti friction bearing s .lzrand ,t3,;,preferably of the tapered roller type a and held in .place by the .usual shoulderstandfretainingt nut. I4.

The axle end H forms a support for the freely rotatable sleeve member I! which is provided withbearing seatsto receive the outer races of the bearings I ZQand l3. The outer surface of the sleeve member I! is cylindrical and of uniform diameter except 'for brake attaching memher [8. The outer surface of sleeve I! provides a, journal on which the hub portion of the inner wheel is freelyrotatable. This inner wheel hub portioncomprises an elongated cylindrical sleeve 20 to which is integrally formed the radially extending flange 2|, centrally thereof. Sleeve 20 is lined with a bushing 22, preferably of graphite bronze. extending for its. full length so that easy relative rotation is assured between the sleeves l! and 20.

The brakemountingmember [8 extends sub- .stantially radially from the inner end of the sleeve I! and is recessed to receive a thrust washer 23 between it and the inner end of the inner wheel hublsleevezu. A similar thrust washer 24 is providediat thezouter end of the inner wheel hub 20.

The outer wheel isprovided with a relatively long hub which is axially'slidable over the sleeve Hand may be slid thereover or removed therefrom. This outer wheel hub comprises a tubular member to which is integrally formed a radially extending flange 3 l and has finished inner surfaces 32 ateach end by which it is closely fitted to the outer surface of sleeve H. The hub 30 extends outwardly and is flanged centrally to abut the outer end of sleeve ll and is apertured to receive the conically tapered nuts 33 which are threaded onto the axially extending studs 34, threadedly secured in the outer end of the sleeve H. The nuts 33 cooperate with similarly tapered seats in the outer face of flange 35 so that the inner surface 32 and the nuts 33 cooperate'to accurately seat the outer wheel hub coaxially with respect to the axle end H and the inner wheel hub sleeve 11. The thrust washer 24 provides a bearing between the sleeves 20 and 30 at their adjacent ends and shims 36 are provided between the end of sleeve l1 and flange35 to attain, proper spacial relationships.

.To seal the bearings against dust, and to secure the bearing [2 in its seat, a hub cap 40 is threaded into the outer flange35 and its innerface abuts the outer race of the hearing I 2, also ccveringthe nut-l4.

The outer hub sleeve 30 is provided at itsinner end with an axial extension 41 which cooperates 'withithe packing ring 42 to form -.an

a intermediate dust seal and lubricant retainer so cular opening having a series of holes uniformly spaced near its inner periphery to receive the studs 50 and be secured by the conical nuts thereby securely holding the demountable wheel 46 to its respective mounting flange 2| or 3|.

Means are also provided for preventing substantial axial movement of the inner wheel hub 25 with reference to the mountingsleeve H independent of the outer wheel hub 30, and these means are preferably associated with the braking means for the independently rotatable wheels. As embodied the radially extending flange l8 at the inner end of the sleeve I! is finished to provide a circular seat on which the outer wheel brake drum 55 may be mounted by means of its web portion 5'? which extends radially inwardly and is shouldered to fit over the outer periphery of the flange l8 and be secured thereto by means of the attaching bolts 58 which rigidly fasten the brake drum 55 to sleeve l1 thereby providing a braking member rigidly attached to the outer hub 39 and its associated wheel and rim 45, 4B.

The inner wheel brake comprises a substantially cylindrical brake drum 60 preferably of the same internal diameter as brake drum 55 and coaxial thereto. At its inner end drum 60 is provided with a narrow flange 6| which fits into the turned edge 62 of the deeply dished connecting drum (i4, and is secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 85. The deeply dished mounting drum 64 extends outwardly and radially inwardly, and is provided with a centrally apertured portion having a series of bolt holes therein by which it is securely fastened to the flange 2i by means of the mounting bolts 50 for the inner wheel, thereby providing a rigid connection between the brake drum 60, the inner wheel hubs 2| and its associated rim and wheel 45, 46.

The mounting drum 64 is preferably substantially cylindrical near its innermost or turned edge 62, and the outer wheel brake drum 55 is provided with a cylindrical surface 68 of slightly largerdiameter than the remainder of the outside of brake drumv 55 and only very slightly smaller than the'interior of the mounting drum end 52, thereby providing a support and radial bearing for the brake drum 55, thus more accurately to hold the drums 55 and 55 in coaxial relation. This construction also prevents accidental removal of the hub 20 from the sleeve I1 and requires that the entire wheel assembly be removed from the axle end before the inner wheel hub 20 can be slid from its sleeve [1.

The mounting drum 64 is also preferably pro-' vided with a plurality of apertures 65, 65' to permit the circulation of air about the outer wheel brake drum 55 for the dissipation of heat generated therein by braking action.

Suitable brake shoe means are Provided to cooperate with the brake drums 55 and 60 and may be of substantially conventional construction. As embodied the brake anchor 10 is provided on which is supported the brake actuating cam H rotatably mounted by its-shaft 12, while the brake shoes 14 are pivotally mounted for-expansion by means of pivot pins 15 secured in the yoke 16 attached to the anchor plate 10. The brake shoes 14 are thus expanded in the conventional manner into contact with the inner surfaces of the cylindrical brake drums 55 and 55 independently retarding the rotation of these drums. Each brake shoe 14 engages both drums 55 and Wand the bearing surfacesfiz and 68 hold'the brake drums in true alinement so that the inner surface of each is th cylindrical extension of the other.

When it is desired to remove the inner Wheel, as in the case of a puncture of the inner tire, the conical nuts 33 are removed thereby allowing the outer hub 35 to he slid from the sleeve I1. Vfhen the outer hub has been completely removed, the wheel mounting nuts 51 for the inner wheel may be removed, and'the inner wheel may be changed and secured in place by replacement of the nuts 5|. During this operation, which can be performed easily on the road, the inner wheel hub 29 is held against removal from the sleeve l1 by the inner wheel brake drum 60, thereby preventing the operator of the truck from tampering with the bearings or exposing them to dirt and the like. After the inner wheel has been replaced, the outer wheel and its hub 30 are replaced on the sleeve I! with the bolts 34 projecting through apertures in the end of the hub 30, and the outer wheel hub is rigidly secured to the sleeve l1 against both axial and rotational movement by means of the conical should be performed in the shop, the castellated nut I4 is removed thereby permitting the entire wheel assembly including its bearings l2 and I3 and its brake drums 55 and Bllto'be removed from the axle end. The outer wheel and itshub 30 may then be removed in the usual manner, and the bolts 66 may be removed to free the inner wheel brake drum 60 from its mounting drum 64. Thereupon the inner wheel hub 20 may he slid axially from the sleeve l'lgiving complete access to all of the bearings 22, 23,24,

Figure 2 of the drawings shows a modified embodiment of the invention in which the outer'hub 30 is formed withan integral hub cap 40', the flange-like portion 35' between the hub cap and hub being apertured to receive the axially ex:

tending studs 34 and the cooperating conical nuts into a'correspondingly shouldered portion 8! of Y the brake drum 60'. The ring may be pressed .or shrunk upon the outer wheel brake drum 55 with the projecting portion forming a running fit with the shouldered portion 8| of drum 60', thus serving to align and support each brake drum with the other upon application of th'e common brake shoe.

Or, if desired, the ring 80 may be so constructed as to be' loose from each drum but journaled upon the respective drum shoulders so as to serve as a centering or so-called compensating ring. Thus if one drum heats and expands faster than th other drum it will grip the ring 80 and. be

held against further expansion until the slower shows another modification of the braking means.

In the form the outer wheel brake drum 85 is shouldered to telescope slightly with the adjacent shouldered portion 86 of the inner Wheel brake drum 8?, thereby providing strong bearing surfaces between the brake drums, the bearing surfaces being formed as part of the brake drums themselves.

The assembly and dis-assembly of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, both for the replacement of the inner Wheel as well as for removal of the inner Wheel hub from the sleeve l1, may be identical with the similar operations for the embodiment of Figures 1 and 3.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advan-- tages.

What I claim is:

1. In a dual wheel assembly, the combination ofa tubular sleeve rotably mounted on an axle end and having a generally cylindrical exterior and a flange at one end thereof, an elongated hub having a cylindrical bushing, fitted to the sleeve and rotatable thereon, a second elongated hub axially slidable on the sleeve and fitted thereto between which and the flange the first hub is mounted, said second hub having an inwardly extending flange overlying the outer end of the sleeve, means cooperating with the second hub flange and sleeve for detachably securing the second hub against axial and rotational movement on the sleeve, and means carried by the hubs for mounting a wheel on each hub.

2. In a dual wheel assembly, the combination of a tubular sleeve rotably mounted on an axle end and having a generally cylindrical exterior and a flange at one end thereof, an elongated hub having a cylindrical bushing fitted to the sleeve and rotatable thereon, a second elongated hub axially slidable on thesleeve and fitted thereto between which and the flange the first hub is mounted, thrust bearings between the second hub, the first hub and said flange, said second hub having an inwardly extending flange overlying the outer end of the sleeve, means cooperating with the second hub flange and sleeve for detachably securing the second hub against axial and rotational movement on the sleeve, and means carried by the hubs for mounting a wheel on each hub.

3. In a dual wheel assembly, the combination of a tubular sleeve rotably mounted on. an axle end and having a generally cylindrical exterior and a flange at one end thereof, an elongated hub having a cylindrical bushing, fitted to the sleeve and rotatable thereon, a second elongated hub axially slidable on the sleeve and fitted thereto between which and the flange the first hub is mounted, said second hub having an inwardly extending flange overlying the outer end of the sleeve, means cooperating with the second hub flange and sleeve for detachably securing the second hub against axial and rotational movement on the sleeve, means carried by the hubs for mounting a wheel on each hub and means preventing axial movement of the first hub on the sleeve when the second hub has beenremoved.

4. In a dual wheel assembly, the combination of a cylindrical rotatable sleeve having a flange extending radially at an end thereof, an elongated hub having a wheel mounting flange thereon and rotatably journaled on the sleeve, a second hub having a wheel mounting flange fitted to the sleeve and axially slidable over an end thereof, said second hub having an inwardly extending flange overlying the outer end of the sleeve, means cooperating with the second hub flange and sleeve for detachably securing the second hub against axial and rotational movement on the sleeve, and means at the inner side of the first elongated hub preventing removal of the first hub from the sleeve in the absence of the second hub.

CHARLES S. ASH. 

